Current-motor.



G. A. WENDT.

CURRENT MOTOR. APPLICATION FILED 001229, 1912.

Patented May 27, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1- COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH CO.,WASHINGTON, n. c.

G. A. WENDT.

CURRENT MOTOR.

I APPLICATION FILED 0012.29, 1912.

Patented May 27, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3. v

4 M #155555 HOao-QA Q. Mfl y COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH co.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

GUSTAVE ADOLPH WENDT, 0F SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

CURRENT-MOTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 27, 1913.

Application filed October 29, 1912. Serial No. 728,333.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GUsrAvn ADoLPH VVENDT, a citizen of the United States, residing at No. 1409 Water avenue, in the city of Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of Washington, have invented new and useful Improvements in Current-Motors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in current motors of that class wherein blades are moved into and out of a running stream for engagement with the current, so as to operate the motor, and transmit power to any desired point where it is to be utilized.

It is one of the objects of my invention to prolong the period of engagement of each blade in the running water, as far as possible, and to this end I preferably guide the blades over an elongated line of travel instead of rotating them about a common axis.

One of the features of my invention consists in an improved means for shifting the blades, during their advancing movement, into and out of operative positions, in such a manner that the device of my invent-ion can be reduced in size and made much more compact than devices of this character heretofore used.

Other novel features of my invention will be more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings, and will be more particularly pointed out in and by the appended claims.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of a current motor embodying one form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an end view of a blade shaft supporting head. Fig. 5 is a side view thereof and, Fig. 6 is a plan view thereof.

Like characters of reference designate similar parts throughout the different figures of the drawings.

In the form shown, the device of my invention is mounted upon a suitable frame structure, indicated at 1, and which structure may be supportedin or along the sides of a running stream of water in a manner consistent with topography and the particular utility of my invention. The motor is shown connected with a rotary pump 2, which is mounted upon the frame structure at 3, in any desirable manner. A shaft 4 extends from the pump, laterally, and is journaled in bearings 5, on the structure 1. In advance of the shaft 4, which latter preferably extends completely across the frame structure, I provide shafts 6 and 7, mounted in hearings 8, 9, 10 and 11.

In the specific form of my invention herein shown, I have illustrated chain transmission elements and I will hereinafter refer to the transmission elements as chains, although I do not wish to be limited to the use of chains.

On the outer ends of the shafts 6 and 7, are rigidly mounted, sprocket wheels 12 and 13. Sprocket drive chains 14 and 15 are trained over the sprocket wheels 12 and 13, and over sprocket wheels rigidly mounted upon shaft 4, to drive the pump 2. On the inner ends of shafts 6 and 7, are rigidly mounted sprocket wheels 16 and 17, over which, and sprocket wheels 18 and 19, on shafts 20 and 21, are trained chains 22 and 23. Sprocket wheels 18 and 19 are rigidly mounted on shafts 20 and 21, respectively. The chains 22 and 23 carry blades and are hereinafter termed blade driven elements.

Blade carrying shafts 24 are mounted at their ends in heads 25 and the shafts 24 span the space between the chains 22 and 23. Each shaft 24 carries a blade 26, which projects laterally therefrom on opposite sides, and which are mounted at their ends in frames 27, secured to the shafts 24. It will be seen by reference to Fig. 1, that the blades 26 extend substantially across the space between the chains 22 and 23, so that said blades can be adjusted without interfering with the mechanism operated thereby. The

frames 27, in which the blades- 26 are mounted, are rigidly secured to the shafts 24, and to the outer ends of the shafts 24 are rigidly secured sprocket wheels 28. The sprocket wheels 28 mesh. with the inner sections of chains 29, the outer sections of which are trained over sprocket wheels 30 and 31, loosely mounted on shafts 20, 21, 6 and 7. Preferably, the sprocket wheels 31 are provided with integrally formed sprocket wheels 32, over which chains 33, are trained, the said chains 33 extending over sprocket wheels 34, on the driven shaft 4. The chains 33 are therefore driven from the shaft 4, by

;the chain transmission which has just been described. In view of the fact that the sprocket wheels 31 are reduced in diameter with respect to the sprocket wheels 15, and as the wheels 32, are reduced in diameter with respect to the wheels 12 and 13, the chains 33 will have a reduced speed of travel with respect to the chains 22 and 23.

Next referring to the heads 25, and more particularly to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, it will be seen that the hubs 35, of said heads 25, are pivotally connected with chains 22 and 23, so that when the blades 26 are advanced, a corresponding advancing movement will be imparted to the chains 22 and 23. The heads 25 are guided and supported in a predetermined line of travel by guides 36 which take the form of endless tracks mounted on suitable braces 37. Each head 25 has a jaw 38 which is coaXially arranged with respect to the shaft carried by such head. Laterally disposed with respect to the jaw 38 of each head, is a second jaw 39, and both jaws engage the inwardly projecting track guides 36, and are held in predetermined relation with respect to the track guides 36 throughout their travel thereon. Each head 25 is provided with an inwardly projecting arm 40 carrying a roller 41. The roller 41 engages the inner section of chain 29, and maintains the wheel 28 in mesh engagement with the sprocket chain 29. The chain 29, has sufiicient overhang to permit of engagement of the roller 11 therewith, on the inner face thereof,without interference between the wheels 41 and the sprocket wheels 30 and 31.

The device of my invention operates as follows :-Assuming that the stream of water :20 is running in the direction of the arrows indicated, the engagement of the water with the lowermost blade will advance the same, and its companion blades, and transmission will be efi'ected through the blade shafts 24, to the chains 22 and 23, connected with the hubs 35, and then through the sprocket wheels 16 and 17, to shafts 6 and 7, and to wheels 12 and 13. Transmission from Wheels 12 and 13 is effected by chains 14 and 15 to the driven shaft 4. The chains 29 are driven through chains 33, running from shaft 1, to sprockets 32, which are formed integral with sprocket 31. By reason of the relative reduction in size of the said last named sprockets, the chains 29 are driven at a relatively slower rate than the chains 22 and 23. The blade 26 will be turned into the position shown at the ends of the chains, while passing around the sprocket wheels 16, 17, 18 and 19, and when the blades reach the upper lap, they will occupy a horizontal position, instead of a vertical position as on the lower lap. By the time the blades reach a position adjacent to the surface of the stream, as indicated at the right vof Fig. 1, they will begin to assume a vertical position, and will actually attain a vertical position by the time they enter the water.

lVhile I have herein shown and described one specific form of my invention, I'do not wish to be limited thereto except for such limitations as the claims may import.

I claim 1. A current motor comprising in combination, endless track guides, shaft heads slidable on said guides, shafts rotatively mounted in said heads, blades rigidly mounted on said shafts and disposed abreast of the current, sprockets rigidly mounted on said shafts, chains connected with said heads and adapted to be driven by advancing movement of said blades, chains meshing with said sprockets, means for driving said second chain at a slower rate of speed than the rate of speed of the first named chain, and means carriedby said heads for holding said sprockets in mesh with said second chain, substantially as described.

2. A current motor comprising in combination, endless track guides, shaft heads slidable on said guides, shafts rotatively mounted in said heads, blades rigidly mounted on said shafts and disposed abreast of the current to be actuated thereby, sprockets rigidly mounted on said shafts, chains connected with said heads and adapted to be driven by advancing movement of said blades, a second chain meshing with said sprocket, means for driving said second chain from said first chain and at a slower rate of speed, and means carried by said heads for holding said sprockets in mesh with said second chain, substantially as described.

3. A current motor comprising in combination, endless track guides, shaft heads slidably mounted on said guides and held to a fixed relative position with respect thereto, shafts rotatively mounted in said heads, blades rigidly mounted on said shafts and disposed abreast of the current, sprockets rigidly mounted on said shafts, first chains connected with said heads to be advanced by advancing movement of the blades, second chains meshing with said sprockets, and means for driving said second chains from said first chains at a reduced rate of speed for altering the positions of said blades, substantially as described.

4. A current motor comprising in combination, endless track guides, shaft heads slidably mounted on said guides and held to a fixed relative position with respect thereto, shafts rotatively mounted in said heads, blades rigidly mounted on said shafts and disposed abreast of the current to be actuated thereby, sprockets rigidly mounted on said shafts, first chains connected with said heads and adapted to be operated by movement of the blades, second chains having inner and outer sections, sprocket Wheels for the outer sections, the inner sections e11- gaging the sprocket mounted on said shafts, T and means for driving said second chain GUSTAVE ADOLPH from said first chain to change the position of said blades from operative to inoperative positions, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

Witnesses:

HAROLD E. SCANTLEBURY, 'PAUL B. WARREN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

